Seventh Senate District Food Drive Underway Until August 21

Senator Martins and Villages Partner to Collect Food in Tribute to Harry Chapin

Senator Jack M. Martins is partnering with the villages in the Seventh Senate District to collect food through August 21 to benefit Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Senator Martins is sponsoring the food drive as a tribute to the late singer/song writer Harry Chapin, who passed away 30 years ago this year in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway.

The food drive comes in response to the hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders are in need of food. According to a report, entitled “Hunger in America 2010,” presented last year, one out of 10 Long Islanders seeks relief from hunger each year at food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

“Everything from rent, to utilities, to taxes costs more, and for the working poor and those on fixed incomes, it means a precarious day-to-day existence. Add to that a recession that left thousands of hard-working people struggling and it’s clear we need to work together to make sure the food pantries are stocked and able to provide help,” said Senator Martins about the drive.

Senator Martins, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government, reached out to the villages in the Seventh Senate District. Virtually all have agreed to place a food collection receptacle in their village hall.

Items needed include any canned food, peanut butter and jelly, nuts, granola bars, cookies and crackers as well as dried good such as pasta, macaroni and cheese, rice, and hot and cold cereals. Almost any other packaged items can be donated as well.

Founded in 1980 by singer and activist Harry Chapin of Huntington, it provides food and support services to a network of more than 540 community-based agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, child-care programs, disability organizations and veteran services.

The following villages will be participating by having a drop-off box at their village halls: